Support



2Q, 1949 s. F. CALDWELL SUPPORT Filed March a, 1946 2 Sheets-Shet 1INVENTOR. fEOKQE F. CALZDWE LL.

ATTOEA/EY 1949 G. F. CALDWELL 2,491,891

SUPPORT Filed March 8, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. qaozqe F-CAIJWELL.

Patented Dec. 20, 1949 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE sUP oa'r George F.-Caldwel l, Philadelphia, Pa. Application March 8, 1946, Serial No.652,885

This invention relates to supports, more particularly to supports forthe funnel elements Qf coffee brewers, andhas for an object to provideimproved supports of this character.

In the use of coifee brewers consisting of a lower decanter element andan upper funnel element, and the funnel element comprising a bowl havinga tubular stem depending therefrom for insertion into the decanter andadapted to be sealed with respect to the latter by a gasket forming partof the funnel, considerable breakage, of. the funnel element occurs.Such breakage usually results from rolling of the funnel when separatedfrom the decanter and lying on a fiat surface such as a sink drainboardor table top. Such rolling may cause the funnel, which generally is madeof relatively thin glass, to strike an adjacent object or to fall fromthe 1 Claim. (Cl. 248-346) supporting surface to the'floor, eitheraction usually resulting in cracking, chipping or breaking of thefunnel.

Further, the mere contact of the funnel with a hard supportingsurfacasuch asa sink drainboard, may cause cracking or breaking ifspecial care is not exercised in laying the funnel thereon.

Accordingly, another object of the invention is to provide means forpreventing rolling .of a coffee brewing funnel whenlaid ona flatsupporting surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for preventingdirect contact between a coffee brewing funnel and a flat surfacesupporting the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide, for use with a coffeebrewing funnel, a supporting member which may be readily applied to, andremoved from, said funnel.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide, for use with a coffeebrewing funnel, a supporting member therefor which will prevent rollingthereof when the funnel is positioned horizontally on a supportingsurface, and which may remain associated with the funnel during normaluse thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a supporting member fora coffee brewing funnel which may remain secured to said funnel duringuse of the latter, or may be readily removed therefrom if desired.

These and other objects are effected by the invention as will beapparent from the following de scription and claim taken in accordancewith the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the present invention; 1

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and2, as viewed from the left of the latter figure;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the structure of the preceding figures;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view showing the device applied to thecoffee brewing funnel during normal use of the latter;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figs. 6 and 7. I l

Referring now, to the drawings more in detail, the reference characterI0 indicates, in its en'- tirety, the novel support constituting thesubject matter of the present invention, shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5applied to the object to besupported, the funnel ll of a coffee brewer12 (Fig. 5.).

Throughout the drawings the coffee brewer l2 and its component parts areshown in phantom, the brewer l2 comprising a decanter 13 having theusual handle-l4 attached to the neck I 6 thereof by the band I I. Thefunnel ll includes the bowl l8 and depending stem l9, the latter beingadapted to extend into the decanter l3 when the funnel I I is positionedthereon and sealed relative thereto by the gasket 2|. Usually, thegasket 2| is of a rubberlike material and the remaining parts are ofglass.

Referring now to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4,inclusive, the support It is preferably formed of a single piece of wireprovided at its midpoint with a bend 23 connecting a pair of divergingfirst portions 24. These portions 24 are joined by bends 25 to a pair ofconverging second portions 26. The portions 24 and 28 and the connectingbends 23 and 25 all lie in a common plane and define a base adapted torest on any suitable supporting surface such as a sink drainboard, tabletop, etc.

A pair of leg portions 21 extend upwardly from, and are connected to,the free ends of the portions 26, and terminate in a pair of spaced armsor gripping members 28 which are oppositely concaved to closely embracethe funnel I l at opposite sides of the groove 29 defined by the bottomof the funnel bowl l8 and the adjacent inclined surface 3| of the gasket2 I. To insure that the arms 28 engage the groove 29 with sufiicientpressure to prevent accidental separation of the support In from thefunnel l l, a coiled spring 32 connects the two arms 28 at their pointof connection with the legs 21, and is of such length that it istensioned when the arms 28 are in normal engagement with the funnelgroove 29.

Preferably the legs 21 are inclined slightly from the perpendicularrelative to the plane of the base portions 23, 24, 25 and 26, in thedirection of the bend .23, and the arms 28 may be slightly inclined inthe same direction. As result of this inclination, the base is at alltimes urged into contact with the side of the funnel bowl I8.

As shown in Fig. 5, the support Ii] does not interfere with normalassembly \of the 'iiumiel in the decanter I3, and may remainconveniently attached to the funnel at all times, if desired, or may beeasily removed when the funnel is to be washed. If kept on the funnelduring normal use of the latter, it is immediately ready and per- 'mitslaying down of the funnel as soon as removed from the decanter.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the .base of the support 10 is so shapedand dimensioned as to 7 shown, or by a crossing or twisting of the legs.

2''! and arms 28 in the region of their junction.

In Figs. 6, '7 and 8 there iisillustrateda modified construction whereinthe base is the same as described above, but the legs 21a have securedtotheir upper ends, as at 35., the terminal portions 3B of an extensioncoil spring 31 whose intermediate portion 38 is adapted to embrace thefunnel l i at the groove .29, Preferablmone :of ithe spring terminalportions .35 would be permanently connected to the upper end of a leg21a, 45

while the other terminal portion would be detachable irom the other leg,as .by a hook connection. Preferably, the .two legs Ila are joined attheir upper ends, by soldering, as at 39,, to form an endless member.

A further advantage of both of the constructions shown lies in the factthat if any drops of liquid tend to collect in the funnel whilesupported, they will drain to the lower part of the bowl l8, and forthis reason it may be found desirable to provide legs 21 or 21a of suchlength that the stem [9 inclines down slightly towards the bowl whensupported.

While the invention has been shown in several :foms, it will be apparentthat it is not :so limited, lentils susceptible of various changes andmodifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

Supporting structure for a coffee brewing funnel which has a bowl and astem extending there- ;irom and surrounded by a gasket, said structurecomprising a length of wire having a bend at its mid portion providingdiverging first portions joined .at one end by said bend, said divergingfirst portions being joined by a pair of bends to converging secondportions, said first and second portions and said bends lying in .acommon plane constituting a base adapted to .rest on any substantiallyhorizontal supporting surface, a pair of legs joined to the free ends ofsaid second portions and extending upwardly the-retrain in a commonplane, and securing means carried by the upper ,ends of said arms andadapted to engage the supported .Iunnel at the joint between its bowland gasket when said funnel is-disposed horizontally with the side ofits bowl resting on and supported solely by said base, said securing,meanscomprising a pair of fingers constituting extensions of said armsand including bent portions providing opposed gripping members adaptedto -re'leasably grip opposite sides of the funnel, and resilient meanssecured between said arms for urging said gripping members intoengagement with the opposite sides of the funnel.

GEORGE F. CALDW'ELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1;988,,827 Bennett Jan. 22; 19352,092,526 Aprile Sept. 7, 1937

